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Cinderella on the Way to the Ball 

























PUPPET PLAYS 
for CHILDREN 

FIVE LITTLE PLAYS FOR MARIONETTES 
PUPPETS AND SHADOWS AND 
HOW TO GIVE THEM 


By 

FLORENCE McCLURG EVERSON 

TEACHER OF ENGLISH, CLEVELAND (o.) PUBLIC SCHOOLS 


WITH THIRTY DRAWINGS 
AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SCENES 


BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 

CHICAGO 




Copyright, 1929, by 
Beckley-Cardy Company 


Printed in the United States of America 


JAN -2 !930 


©CU 17662 


To My Feiend 

iEUsabrtt; 3. ClorriH 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

The author wishes to thank Miss Mary McCann, 
Teacher at East Clark School, who collaborated in the 
production of ‘‘The Health Brownies,’’ and Miss 
Bertha K. Budde and Miss Florence L. Corell, Super¬ 
visors in the Art Department of the Cleveland Public 
Schools, for their assistance in the designing of the 
puppets and the stage settings. 


HOW THE PLAYS ORIGINATED 


This little group of Puppet or Marionette Plays was 
written by classes of fourth and fifth grade children, 
who originated the idea themselves as an English proj¬ 
ect they desired to carry out. 

They wrote the stories out in prose first, then re- 
w^rote them, verse by verse, in rhyme. 

It was most interesting to note how these pupils 
enlarged their vocabulary, how their oral and written 
English improved, and how correct spelling became 
to them a real end to be attained, not merely a thing 
apart. 

The art work was done in class time, also, and help¬ 
ful suggestions were given by the supervisors of art 
in the Cleveland schools. 

As the work developed through the interest and 
diligence of the pupils, and the able guidance of the 
teacher, the classes suggested inviting the other chil¬ 
dren of the building to see the show, charging admis¬ 
sion. It proved to be a splendid way of adding to 
the school fund. The parents enjoyed seeing these 
little puppets or marionettes take their parts under 
the manipulation of their boys and girls, as did also 
the supervisors, assistant superintendent, and others. 

Every pupil in the classes doing this work had a 


7 


8 


How the Plays Originated 


part not only in the writing of the rhymes but in the 
making and operating of the puppets as well. 

These will, I am sure, satisfy a keenly felt want in 
other cities where pupils are using projects or activ¬ 
ity units in their school work. 

Elizabeth I. Corris 

Principal, East Clark School, Cleveland, Ohio 



CONTENTS 


PAGE 

How the Plays Originated.7 

PAET I 

How TO the Plays 

How We Made the Puppets.15 

Dressing the Puppets.23 

Wiring the Puppets.25 

Staging the Puppet Play.29 

PART II * 

Five Little Plays foe Puppets oe Maeionettes 
AND Shadows 

Cinderella and the Glass Slipper.37 

The Three Bears.57 

The Health Brownies.73 

Jack and the Beanstalk.85 

Santa ^s Magic.107 


9 












PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SCENES 


PAGE 

Cinderella on tlie Way to the Ball . . Frontispiece 

Practice Makes Perfect in the Art of 

Maneuvering Puppets.26 

The Stepsisters Taunt Poor Cinderella .... 40 
‘‘Cinderella riding to the ball in glee” ... 46 
The Wedding of the Prince and Cinderella . . 54 

“Yum! yum! yum! this soup is good” .... 58 

“Oh, this is too high! My feet dangle so!” . . 60 

“Who has dared to come into our kitchen?” . . 64 

“Some one has been sitting in MY chair!” . . 66 

“Here she is, fast asleep!”.70 

The King of the Brownies.75 

Washee Mutchee, the Cleanliness Brownie . . 77 

Tuck-M-In, the Sleep Brownie.81 

Cheffy, the Food Brownie.83 

The Giant, His Wife, Jack, the Butcher (Fairy) . 96 
“F'e, fi, fo, fum! I smell the blood of an 

Englishman! ”.98 

Jack Creeps In.102 

“The wee folks agree”.113 


10 











Piippet Plays for Children 






PART I 

How to Give the Plays 






HOW WE MADE THE PUPPETS 


A bolt of cotton batting, a few yards of cheesecloth, 
a skein of yarn and a little paint and you have the 
makings of a troupe of little actors that can be as 
amusing and entertaining as any honest-to-goodness 
stage folks. I’ll tell you how we made the Prince 
Charming for the Cinderella play and you’ll see how 
easy it is to make a puppet or marionette. 

The dolls must of course be large enough to be seen 
plainly across the schoolroom and small enough to fit 
the furnishings of the little stage. We found fifteen 
inches to be high enough for the tall men of the cast, 
such as the Prince, and all the other characters were 
made in proportion. 

Now, let’s see: if the puppet is to be fifteen inches 
high, then the head should be about three inches 
long. A piece of cotton batting is squeezed and 
patted, shaped and molded into a cotton-batting 
egg. Not a scattery, bunchy egg, but a good, solid, 
smooth, cotton egg. This is really the most important 
part of the doll and the most difficult to shape. Next, 
a piece of cheesecloth about eight inches square is 
pulled tightly over the cotton egg and drawn together 
at the small end. A piece of heavy linen thread 


15 


16 


Puppet Plays for Children 


wrapped around several times to fasten the cheese¬ 
cloth in place forms the neck of the puppet. A little 
of the cotton can be pinched out to form a nose and 
tacked with thread at the nostrils. 



X. Showing stitches in cotton by means of which 
features are shaped 

Y. Fold in cheesecloth covering 

We used show-card colors to paint the little actors. 
A paint cup half filled with water, to which some 
orange-and-white color and a little red is added, is 
mixed until a bright flesh color is obtained. Give the 
face one coat of the color and let it dry. Much of 
this first coat will soak into the cotton. For the next 
coat apply the paint a little thicker and while it is 
still wet, touch the cheeks with a few drops of the 
red paint to give the doll a nice, rosy complexion. 




How We Made the Puppets 


17 


When this complexion is dry, paint the eyebrows and 
the outline of the eyes with black paint. Drop a little 
bright blue into each eye, and paint the lips with three 
dabs of the bright red paint. 



X. Showing manner in which cheesecloth 
covering is tied at the neck 

Y. Ends of cheesecloth covering 

For the hair you can glue on an old dolFs wig cut 
into shape, or sew on some strands of yarn. The soft, 
fluffy yarn makes a nice head of hair. Two or three 
bebe shots placed just below the chin will enable the 
marionette to bow with greater ease. 

Now for the body. A solid roll of cotton batting 
five inches long and about as big around as a pop 
bottle is covered with a six-inch square of cheesecloth. 
But wait! Do not sew on the covering until the pup- 




18 


Puppet Plays for Children 


pet is ready to be assembled. Two solid rolls of cot¬ 
ton three inches long and the thickness of a man’s 
thumb are wrapped with four-inch squares of cheese¬ 
cloth for the upper part of the legs; and two stiff 
rolls of the cotton, also three inches in length but 
about as large around as the little finger, are wrapped 
tightly with four-inch squares of cheesecloth. In each 
case the ends of cheesecloth are folded in neatly and 
sewed like this: 



A. Showing roll of cotton wrapped in cheesecloth covering 

B. Showing cheesecloth covering folded and tacked down 

C. Showing upper and lower parts of leg joined at the knee, also 
shozving hebe shots that give weight to the leg of the puppet 


Before sewing, hebe shots can be placed in the knees 
and ankles to give a more natural gait to the doll 
when it walks about the stage. For feet, we cut soles 























How We Made the Puppets 


19 


of stiff cardboard about an inch and a half long. These 
we Aveighted with metal washers, padding them with 
a little batting and wrapping with a narrow strip of 
cheesecloth. Fasten the legs together at the knee with 
stout linen thread, but do not draw the thread tightly. 
Loose, yet strong, joints are required for walking, 
kneeling and bending. The same rule applies to the 
ankle fastening. When the legs and feet are fastened 
together they should look like this: 



A. Showing how cardboard foot is fastened at the ankle 

B. Showing metal washers sewed to bottom of foot 

After the legs are completed, making the arms is a 
simple matter. Foil the cotton for the arms as you 
did for the legs, but don’t use quite so much batting, 
and make them just long enough so that the elbow 





20 


Puppet Plays for Children 


joint will reach halfway to the hips and the wrist-joint 
halfway to the knees. You do not have to sew on hands. 
Dip the ends of cheesecloth into glue or shellac and 
press into shape like this: 



X. Showing elbow 

Y. Wrist 

Z. Shows how ends of cheesecloth 
covering form hand of puppet 

The puppet is now ready to he assembled. Tuck 
the ends of cheesecloth that form the neck into the 
roll of cotton that forms the dolPs body. Fasten arms 
and legs on to body loosely yet securely. 

It is a good idea to begin with a simple figure so 
that your first attempt at puppet-making will be a 
sure success. The next chapter will tell you how to 
dress or costume the puppet, so as to have the right 
type for each character. 



Hoiv We Made the Puppets 


21 



Shoimig how parts of puppet are put together 

A. End of neck tucked into body 

B. Cheesecloth covering for body sewed together at shoulders. 

puppet is now ready to be costumed 


The 
















' J ^ 

» ' r 

. r 


4 




t 






k 




DRESSING THE PUPPETS 


Of course the costume of the actor depends alto¬ 
gether upon his character in the play. We cut paper 
patterns to tit the puppets, after we had first decided 
upon the kind of costumes and had made crayon 
sketches of them. Bright velvets, bits of brocade and 
heavy ribbon, pieces of gold lace left over from lamp 
shades or draperies made the rich court dresses of 
the Prince and his court. The hoop skirts of the court 
ladies were wired out with small ten-cent lamp shades. 

To be sure the parts of the costume need not he 
fitted together, hut may he sewed upon the puppet; for 
there is no changing of costumes in a puppet play. 
Cinderella, her stepmother and stepsisters seem to 
change their costumes, but in reality other puppets 
made to look as much like the originals as possible are 
substituted. There must be two Cinderellas, two step¬ 
mothers and four stepsisters, you see. 

In the last scene, showing the wedding of Cinderella 
and the Prince, a gold lace overskirt was removed 
from Cinderella’s ballroom dress and a big veil of 
white net was pinned upon her fair head. 

For bridesmaids we used the guests in the ballroom 
scene and the dresses of the ladies were changed 
hastily into robes of bridesmaids by pinning on skirts 


23 


24 


Puppet Plays for Children 


made of crepe paper, gathered very full and fastened 
at the waist with corsages of paper flowers. These 
changes can be made between acts when the music- 
box orchestra is playing the interludes ; but the cos¬ 
tumes can never be changed, so sew them on firmly. 
Sew the waist of the dress to the body and the sleeve 
to the arm, but do not sew the sleeve to the waist, for 
that would restrict the movement of the actor’s arm. 
We found that short sleeves are much better than 
long ones, for a long sleeve does not permit a good 
elbow movement. 

Stockings and shoes are not necessary, for they can 
be painted on with black, gold or silver. Of course Cin¬ 
derella had to have a slipper before she could lose one, 
so we painted a doll’s slipper and her long dress con¬ 
cealed the fact that there was no slipper on the other 
foot. 

Ostrich-feather fans made from cast-off hat trim¬ 
mings added to the beauty of the court costumes. 
Broken and discarded strings of beads made lovely 
trimmings for the dresses. 



WIRING THE PUPPET 


We found that boys and girls can do much better 
work with simple controllers than with complicated 
ones. Our controllers were cut from sticks about as 
wide and heavy as a ruler. Indeed, if you can’t find any 
other wood, rulers will do very nicely. We cut these 
sticks into ten-inch lengths. To each stick we fastened 
two crosspieces. These crosspieces were seven inches 
long, fastened about two inches from one end and 
across the middle of the ten-inch stick. Near the ends 
of the sticks and of the crosspieces cut, drill or burn 
a hole. We burned the holes with heated nails. 



A, B, C, D, E, F. Openings for threads 
X. Child who operates the puppet grasps 
the controller here zvith his left hand 


25 













Practice Makes Perfect in the Art of Maneuvering Puppets 






















Wiring the Puppets 


27 


Now you are ready to wire the puppets. We did 
not use wire, of course, but tine, yet strong, waxed linen 
cord such as electricians and telephone men use. If 
you can’t get that, any heavy linen thread will do. If 
your stage backgrounds are light, the linen-colored 
thread is best; if they are dark, use black thread. Wax 
the cord so that it will not kink or tangle. With a long 
darning needle, run a thread right through the doll’s 
head just above the ears, or the place where the ears 
ought to be. About two feet of thread should dangle 
from each ear, ready to be fastened to the controller. 



Showing attachment of puppet to controller. Strings 
are manipulated by the operator’s right hand 

Now fasten these threads into E and F, While 
somebody holds the controller, attach threads to the 







28 


Puppet Plays for Children 


puppet’s wrist and fasten to the ends of A, From the 
knees the threads go to C and D. 

At the back of the puppet, just above the waist line, 
fasten another thread and bring the end of that to 
opening B. 

The child who operates the puppet grasps the con¬ 
troller at X with his left hand. The threads are 
pulled with the right hand. By tipping the controller 
back and forth, or to the right and left, the actor can 
be made to jump, bow or nod his head. To make him 
walk, move the controller up and down with the left 
hand and pull alternately upon the knee threads at C 
and B. Hands will gestulate or wave wildly in the 
air when the wrist cords are moved at E and F. 

The cord at B holds the puppet upright. If it is 
slackened by tipping the controller, the little actor will 
bow gracefully from his waist. 

Practice makes perfect in the art of maneuvering 
puppets and you will have heaps of fun in the practice. 
You will learn to seat the little actor upon a chair, 
clap his hands and cause him to dance to the music. 

I almost forgot to say that the bodies of the cast 
who wear long, full skirts do not need any threads at¬ 
tached to their knees, for they can be made to walk in 
a dignified and stately manner by simple up-and-down 
movements of the controller. 



STAGING THE PUPPET PLAY 


Two kitchen tables of the same size can be converted 
into a stage. Turn one table upside down upon the 
other. The four table legs that extend upward form 
the four corners of the stage. Wires stretched across 
the front will hold the stage curtains. A board nailed 
across the back from one table-leg to the other makes 
a resting place for the elbows and arms of the chil¬ 
dren who are working the puppets. You can attach 
curtains or cardboard scenes to this board, which 
should be about three inches wide. (Diagram, 
page 30.) 

The children stand on a bench or upon chairs back 
of the table and their feet are hidden by curtains 
draped about the lower table. (Diagram, page 31.) 
The next problem is to hide the heads of the manipu¬ 
lators without hiding any of the stage. A big card¬ 
board arch, several feet wide at the top, can be fas¬ 
tened to the front table-legs in this fashion. 

A curtain may be gathered across the top, as you 
see it in the photograph of the stage used in Cinder¬ 
ella, Curtains stretched from the stage to the sides 
of the room hide the operators and also those who 
read the parts for the little actors, for we found that 
much better results were obtained when operators 


29 


30 


Puppet Plays for Children 



Rear View of Stage Front 











































































Staging the Puppet Play 


31 



Side View of Stage, which is made from two kitchen tables 

Arch to hide the heads and curtains to hide the feet of the 
children who operate the actors 











































































32 


Puppet Plays for Children 



A. Board which supports the arms of operators and to which 
backgrounds are tacked 

B. Bench upon which operators stand 


have nothing to do but manipulate the puppets and 
readers have nothing to do but read their parts. 

It takes about forty-five minutes to give Cinderella 
and the Glass Slipper, At the end of that time the 
operators and readers are somewhat tired, so we used 
two different casts when we repeated the show. In 
this way every child in the class may have some part 
in the performance. 

I ought to say a word about the moving background 
for Scene III, On the Way to the Ball, 

We used an old window shade, a long one that had 
been used in the schoolroom. It was cut to a length 

























staging the Puppet Play 


33 

















































































































34 


Puppet Plays for Children 


of twice the width of our stage. The ends were 
stitched together, after a woodland scene had been 
painted upon it. Two shade rollers, from which the 
springs had been removed, were placed upright in 
sockets and opposite each other at the back of the 
stage. The curtain was slipped over them. When the 
rollers were turned by the boys who held them in their 
sockets the background moved merrily around. The 
horse and coach were moved jerkily up and down by 
the operators and thus Cinderella went blithely to 
the ball. 



PART II 


Five Little Plays 
for Puppets or Marionettes 
and Shadows 





CINDERELLA AND THE GLASS 
SLIPPER 


CHAEACTEES 

Cinderella Prince 

Stepmother Ballet Dancer 

Stepsisters, two Guests 

Godmother Herald 

Polly 

SCENE I 

Cinderella at Home 
A Kitchen 

[Cinderella is sitting disconsolate before the 
fireplace] 


Reader. 

Among the cinders here you see 
Poor Ella, sad as she can be. 

All day she has to sweep and cook; 
No time to play, or read a book. 


37 


38 


Puppet Plays for Children 


So black with soot and cinders is Ella, 

That she is called little Cinderella. 

Now, who is this, coming in at the door? 

’Tis her cruel stepmother; just hear her roar! 

[Enter Stepmother] 

Stepmother. 

You^re the laziest wretch in this whole town! 
Gro and tell my daughters to come down! 
[Cinderella leaves^ 

The King’s son is giving a hall next week. 
From the loveliest girls a wife he will seek. 

My sweet daughters shall go to the ball. 

That ugly Cinderella can’t go at all. 

[Stepsisters appear] 

Ah, here are my dainty, darling dears! 

They’ll charm the prince—I have no fears. 

Stepsisters [together]. 

Well, Mother, why have you sent for us? 
Cinderella made such a dreadful fuss. 

Stepmother. 

My dears, you have been asked to his Majesty’s 
ball 

To be given next week, in the royal hall. 

The King’s son will choose a girl for his wife. 
Don’t you see, darling dears? It’s the chance of 
your life! 



Cinderella 


39 


Decide, now, what kind of gowns you will wear. 
You must charm the prince, so choose with care. 
First Stepsister. 

Oh, I want a dress of bright orange hue. 

Second Stepsister. 

I think I’d look cunning in light, baby blue! 
Stepmother. 

Very well! Yards of satin and velvet I’ll buy. 
We will make them at once! How our fingers will 
fly! 

First Stepsister. 

Make my fingers fly? Not I! 

Second Stepsister. 

No, nor I! Let that lazy Cinderella make her fin¬ 
gers fly! 

Stepmother. 

A good idea! Call her down at once. 

She sews very well, though she is a dunce. 


curtain 




■ ^ -.-f 






: V*.--'., ^>. 

^ ' ' 


*1 > 

’ii*ij8iiliiifti«l» 


•• ■ 

■ ^ .• ' v^f*' ;.-.v' ».•••>■•—::-!■ ... . 

-—sr- . 

mugugum 


The Stepsisters Taunt Poor Cinderella 






























Cinderella 


41 


SCENE II 

The Night of the Ball 
The Kitchen 

[CiNDEEELLA discovered weeping] 


Eeader. 

Why is poor Cinderella weeping so? 

Because to the ball she longs to go. 

[Stepsisters appear ] 

Now see, the stepsisters appear. 

Why are they grinning from ear to ear? 

They have come to taunt this poor little maidc 
Who is always ready to come to their aid. 

First Stepsister. 

Ah, don’t you wish you were going to-night? 
But you can’t go. You look like a fright! 

[Stepsisters leave] 


Header. 

Now the haughty sisters sail out of the room. 
Leaving poor Cinderella with scrub-brush and 
broom. 



42 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Hark! some one knocks, one-two-three! 

Now, who in the world do you suppose it can he? 

[Godmother enters] 


Godmother. 

Why were you weeping, dear child? Tell me all. 
Cinderella. 

Oh, I wanted so much to go to the ball! 
Godmother. 

Dry your eyes. You shall go, if you like, 

If you’ll be home before the hour of twelve does 
strike. 

Cinderella. 

But, how can I go in these old rags? 

My dress is nothing but tatters and tags! 

Godmother. 

Just trust in your fairy-godmother, my dear. 
I’ll give you a pretty dress, never fear. 

I have a magic wand, you see, 
Hoke-us-Poke-us-Tiddle-oak-us, fi-fum-fee. 

CURTAIN FOR A SECOND OR TWO 




Cinderella 


43 


[A new CiNDEEELLA entevs^ 

Cinderella. 

Oh, thank you, thank you! what a beautiful frock! 
And I’ll surely be home by twelve o’clock. 

Shall I walk to the palace, godmother dear? 

I’ll spoil my frock, I greatly fear. 

Godmother. 

Well, well! we’ll see about that. 

Can you find a pumpkin, yellow and fat? 

[Cinderella looks about and finds pufnpkin] 

Good! Now find a nice, plump rat. 

And two gray mice and some lizards fat. 

Cinderella. 

Here they are. Ah, what are you going to do? 
Godmother. 

Oh, you’ll find out when I get through. 


CURTAIN 



44 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Godmother. 

Hoke-us-poke-us, fie-fum-fee. 

A coach and horses soon you will see! 

[A coach and horses^^ appear] 
Godmother. 

And here are footman and a driver for you! 
Cinderella. 

Am I dreaming, godmother? Can this really be 
true? 

Godmother. 

ICs all true, my child, and you’re ready to go. 
But take care! The clock won’t stop for you, you 
know. 

Cinderella. 

All right, godmother. I’ll be home on time— 
Long before the midnight chime. 

Godmother. 

Very well, see that you are, my dear. 

Or rags, rats, mice and lizards will appear. 



Cinderella 


45 


Cinderella. 

I’ll remember. Good-by. Into the coach, I’ll 
climb. 

Godmother. 

Good-by, good-by. Be sure to have a good time. 

CURTAIN FOR FIVE MINUTES 


[Cinderella climbs into coac 1 i ~\ 








Sir 




^ .h 




Cinderella riding to the hall in glee 






















Cinderella 


47 


SCENE III 

On the Way to the Ball 
{Revolving background of forest] 


Reader. 

Boys and girls: In this scene yon will see 
Cinderella riding to the hall in glee. 

The road is rough and the night is dark. 

[Horse gallops] 

What is that noise? Hark! Hark! 

A bear is hiding behind the tree. 

[Bear growls] 

At the crack of the whip, it will turn and flee. 
[Bear enters] 

Cinderella is saved by her footmen, so true. 
I’m glad they were with her; aren’t you? 

[Bear disappears] 

At last she arrives at the castle gate. 

The ball has begun. Cinderella is late. 

The prince will escort her into the ball. 

The next scene will show the wonderful ball. 


CURTAIN 



48 


Puppet Plays for Children 


SCENE IV 

The Gkand Ball 

Music played by music box 

Beautifidly goivned ladies and gallant gentlemen dance, 
Cinderella appears and is greeted by guests. 

Ballet Dancer gives solo dance. 

Cinderella dances luitJi Prince. Guests dance. 

Clock strikes twelve. 

Cinderella leaves. 



Cinderella 


49 


SCENE V 

The Mokning Aftek the Ball 
The Kitchen 

[Discovered: Cinderella sweeping the floor] 
Cinderella. 

Did I dream that I went to the wonderful balD 
It was hard to get up at my stepmother’s call. 
I am so tired, so sleepy—it must be true! 
Cinderella, that lovely princess was you. 

I can’t forget—the prince so charming! 

The time went so fast, it was really alarming. 
I left in such a dreadful hurry, 

I lost my slipper in the flurry. 

And when the prince hurried after me. 

He picked it up, but I had to flee. 

Oh, I shall never see him again, I fear. 

For I disobeyed my godmother, dear. 
[Cinderella sits down. Stepsisters appear,] 

First Stepsister. 

Ho-hum! I’m tired, aren’t you? 

Second Stepsister. 

I surely am, and hungry, too! 



50 


Puppet Plays for Children 


First Stepsister. 

Cinderella, get busy, you lazy dunce! 

Get some breakfast for us at once. 

Second Stepsister. 

You shouldn’t be tired, you weren’t out last night. 
But why are you crying? Your eyes are a sight. 
No wonder we’re tired, we got in at two. 

There was a beautiful princess that lost her glass 
shoe. 

She was so lovely, dressed all in white. 

The prince kept her always in sight. 

But when the clock struck twelve, oh my! 

You should have seen that princess fly. 

Whence she came, where she went, nobody knew. 
It made the prince feel very blue. 

Herald \_m the distance]. 

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye all. 

Who can wear the glass slipper lost at the ball? 

Stepsisters [together]. 

Hark, who is that? What does he say? 

I do believe he is coming this way. 

Ah, he is knocking at the door. 

Cinderella, get under this tub on the floor! 
Herald. 

I come at the order of our gracious prince. 

Who can wear this slipper and never wince? 



Cinderella 


51 


Fikst Stepsister. 

My foot is so tiny, just let me try. 

[Stepsister tries on the slipper^ 

Ouch.! ouch! my toes! Oh me! Oh my! 

Herald. 

Take it off. You can’t wear that shoe! 

It’s plain to see that you won’t do. 

Second Stepsister. 

Let me see how it will feel 
On my foot. Oh, my heel! my heel! 

Herald. 

You can’t wear it, either, I see. 

Now what other maid in this house may there be! 

Stepsisters [together^. 

There is no one else outside, nor in this door! 
Polly. 

Look under the tub that lies on the floor! 
[Cinderella conies out from under the tuh^ 
Herald. 

Who is this you are hiding from my sight! 
Stepsisters [together ]. 

It’s our ragged stepsister. Isn’t she a fright! 



52 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Herald. 

No matter if she’s a fright, or a beauty. 

To have her try on the shoe is my duty. 

Stepsisters [together']. 

Look! Look! She can wear it, gracious me! 
Herald. 

It fits your foot like the bark on a tree. 
[Gtodmother enters] 

All [together]. 

Who is this? Who are you? Who are you? 
Godmother. 

I have come to bring the other shoe. 

Stepsisters [together]. 

Mother, Mother, come down right away! 

Herald [to Cinderella]. 

Get ready to leave, without delay. 

Godmother [to Herald]. 

Young man, if you will go outside, 

Cinderella will soon look like a princess bride. 

[Aside] 

Hoke-us-poke-us, fie-fum-fee. 

The lovely Princess, soon you will see. 



Cinderella 


53 


[CiNDEKELLA enters in wedding gown] 
[All reenter] 


All. 

Oh, oh! my, my! Can it be? Is it true? 
Dear Princess Cinderella, is it you? 

CiNDEKELLA. 

Yes, it is true, little Cinderella am I. 

We must leave at once. Good-by, good-by. 


CURTAIN 




The Wedding of the Prince and Cinderella 




















Cinderella 


55 


SCENE VI 

The Wedding of the Peince and Cindeeella 
The Palace 

The puppets that served as guests at the hall now ap¬ 
pear to the tune of a wedding march. 

Ushers march slowly across the stage, 

Stepmothee, Stepsistees and other guests are in the 
wedding procession. The puppets have crepe pa¬ 
per shirts pinned over their ballroom gowns, Cin¬ 
deeella in wedding gown ente,rs on the arm of the 
Heeald. 

Lapse of a few minutes. 

'‘Oh, Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young 
Charms/’ is sung by a little girl. 

Cindeeella reenters on the arm of the Peince as the 
little girl sings. Wedding guests appear and shout. 

Wedding Guests. 

Long live the Prince. 

Long live the lovely Princess. 


CUETAIN 







THE THREE BEARS 


CHAEACTERS 

Goldilocks Mother Bear 

Father Bear Baby Bear 

Note: The stanzas are numbered for convenience 
in referring to them when rehearsing the play. Other¬ 
wise children would he apt to lose their places. 


SCENE I 


The Bears’ Kitchen 

Goldilocks. 

1 . 

Hello, hello! is any one at home? 

Hello, hello! may I come in? 

What a pretty kitchen, so bright and gay I 
And everything as neat as a pin! 


2 . 

What do I smell? Oh, here it is! 

Soup in these bowls! How good it looks I 
I’m just as hungry as I can he. 

And this smells like the soup my mother cooks. 


3 . 

There is no one here to eat it now, 

It would be a pity to let it waste. 
Would it he wrong to take a sip? 

I’m anxious to know how it will taste. 


57 



Yum! yum! yum! this soup is good 




























The Three Bears 


59 


4 . 

I’ll try the soup in this big bowl. 

Ouch! ouch!! ouch!!! It’s too hot! 

I burned my tongue, oh, oh, oh! 

I believe this is just out of the pot. 

5 . 

I’d better try this middle-sized bowl. 

Ugh, brrr, this is too cold for me! 

It gives me the shivers and chills! 

It tastes even worse than cold tea! 

6 . 

Well, here is some more, I see. 

This little bowl looks just like mine. 

Yum! yum! yum! this soup is good; 

Neither too hot, nor too cold. It’s just fine. 

7 . 

Why, I’ve eaten every bit! 

I really didn’t mean to do that. 

But I was so hungry, and it was so good. 

Oh, I’m beginning to feel stuffy and fat. 

8 . 

I wonder what’s in the next room, 

I’d like to find an easy chair. 

I must sit down and rest a while. 

I’m going in to see what’s there. 

CTJETAm 







o 


>• 


Oh, this is too high! My feet dangle 







































The Three Bears 


61 


SCENE II 

The Beaes’ Living Eoom 


Goldilocks. 


1 . 

What a charming room! What pretty chairs! 
I’ll sit in this big chair and rest a while, 

Oh, this is too high! My feet dangle so! 

I’ll give the middle-sized chair a trial. 

2 . 

Oh, this is too low, it seems so squatty! 

I cannot rest in this, I know. 

Why, here is a chair that looks just right. 

Ah, this is just right! Neither too high nor too 
low. 


{The chair falls apart] 

3 . 

Ow, ow, my knee, my knee! 

Oh, that was a terrible bump. 
And the chair has fallen all apart. 
It went down with such a thump! 



62 


Puppet Plays for Children 


SCENE III 
The Beaes’ Bedeoom 


Goldilocks. 

1 . 

IVe found the bedroom. What good luck! 

I must lie down and rest my knee; 

If I can climb up, I’ll get in here, 

Oh, this is much too hard for me! 

2 . 

This middle-sized bed looks nice and soft. 

Let’s see how it feels! Oh, soft as a feather. 
Dearie me, I’m sinking, ’way in! 

Wow! it’s too hot for this kind of weather. 

3 . 

Now here is a bed that is just right, 

Ho, hum, I’m sleepy. I’ll lie down here. 

Why, this is like my own little bed; 

I do believe the sandman is near. 

[Goldilocks falls asleep] 


CUETAIN 





The Three Bears 


63 


SCENE IV 

iSame as Scene I— The Kitchen 

1 . 

Father Bear. 

Well, we^re back home again. 

I enjoyed our walk this fine Spring day. 
Even though we caught no fish, 

We got some fresh air anyway. 

2 . 

Baby Bear. 

I’m just as hungry as a hear! 

May we have supper, Mother dear? 

My tummy feels as empty 
As if I hadn’t eaten for a year. 

3 . 

Mother Bear. 

You won’t have to wait a minute. 

Supper is ready. We’ll sit down and eat. 
I’ve cooked some nice vegetable soup 
As a very special treat. 

Father Bear. 

Some one has been tasting my soup! 



} 




Who has dared to come into our kitchen?” 























The Three Bears 


Mother Bear. 

And some one has been tasting my soup! 


Baby Bear. 

Some one has been tasting my soup, 
And has eaten every bit! 

Boo, hoo-hoo! 


4 . 

All [together^. 

Who has dared to come into our kitchen? 
Who has dared to sit down here? 

Who has dared to eat our soup? 

It all seems very, very, queer. 

5 . 

Mother Bear. 

Never mind, my dears, never mind; 

I’ll cook more soup right away. 

Go into the living-room and rest; 

Supper will be ready without delay. 







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The Three Bears 


67 


SCENE V 

Same as Scene II— The Living Room 


1 . 


Father Bear. 

Mother, Mother, come in right away! 

See the tracks! Some one has been here! 


Mother Bear. 

There’s mud all over our new rug! 

That dreadful person! oh dear! oh dear! 


Father Bear. 

Some one has been sitting in my chair! 


Mother Bear. 

Some one has been sitting in my chair! 


Baby Bear. 

Some one has been sitting in my chair, 
And has broken it to pieces! 

Boo, hoo-hoo! 



68 


Puppet Plays for Children 


2 . 

All [together^. 

Who has dared to track in mud ? 
Who has dared to come in here? 
Who has dared to break a chair! 
It all seems very, very, queer. 

3 . 

Fathek Beak. 

See! The tracks lead to the hall: 
Yes, and more tracks on the stair! 

Mother Bear. 

Let’s go up to the bedroom 
And see if any one has been there. 


CURTAIN 



The Three Bears 


69 


SCENE VI 

Same as Scene III— The Bedroom 

1 . 

Father Bear. 

Where is that nervy rascal? 

Here are tracks up to the bed. 

Mother Bear. 

Oh, oh, my, my, see here, see here! 
Mud all over my nice spread! 

Father Bear. 

Some one has been lying on my bed! 
Mother Bear. 

Some one has been lying on my bed! 
Baby Bear. 

Some one has been lying on my bed, 
And here she is, fast asleep! 
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo! 

2 . 

G0LDH.0CKS. 

Where am I ? Help! Help! 

Oh, can I get out this way? 

I^m going to jump out of the window! 
Oh, running away doesn’t pay! 

[Jumps through window] 



t 


X. 







9 


Here she is, fast asleep! 












The Three Bears 


71 


3 . 

All [together]. 

She has dared to eat our soup! 

She has dared to break a chair! 

She has dared to sleep in here! 

We should have pulled her curly hair! 


CURTAIN 



^ • 



1 % 


THE HEALTH BROWNIES 

CHARACTERS 

Brawny Brownie^ the Exercise Brownie 
Freshie, the Fresh Air Brownie 
Tuck-M-In^ the Sleep Brownie 
Washee Much, the Cleanliness Brownie 
Cheffy^ the Nourishment or Food Brownie 
King of the Brownies 

SCENE I 

The Brownie Convention 
The King of the Brownies Holds Court 

Brownies arise and how to their King when he appears. 
The King is seated and calls the meeting to order 
with a large wooden gavel. 

King. 

Health Brownies, attention! 

IVe something to mention. 

Important business brings us together. 

I hope all are present in spite of the weather. 

I will call the roll to see 
If any absent one there be. 


73 


74 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Fresh Air, are you here? 

[Freshie answers ^^Here!’’] 

Ah, Freshie answers loud and clear. 

Exercise are you here, too? 

[Brawny Brownie shouts ‘‘Here, too!^’] 
Brawny, I can always depend upon you. 

Sleep, Sleep, are you present to-day? 
[Tuck-M-In drawls “Present to-day’’] 

Yes, Tuck-M-In, and wake up, I pray. 

Now Cleanliness, you’re here, I hope. 

[“Washee Muchee is here,” says he.'] 

Ah, Washee is here and I smell his soap. 

Nourishment, are you with us to-day? 

[“I’m with you to-day.”] 

Yes, our dear Chef will have much to say. 

Now, I want a report from each of you. 

Telling us plainly what you found to do. 

To help the boys and girl of-School* 

To remember and apply every Grood Health Rule. 

Report of F^iesh Air Brownie 

Freshie. 

You will hardly believe it, but I declare 
I found a girl who hated fresh air. 


*Use name of School where played. 





The King of the Brownies 





76 


Puppet Plays for Children 


In winter, she slept all through the night 
With her bedroom window shut down tight. 

Not a breath of air would she let in 
Not even a tiny breeze could get in. 

Now this silly girl was really a sight; 

Her complexion was muddy, let her do what she 
might. 

She scrubbed her face and used drug store aid, 
She tried every lotion that ever was made. 

She envied the girls who had rosy faces. 

But her cheeks of color showed no traces. 

Until I whispered the secret one day: 

^‘To have rosy cheeks there is but one way! 

Open your windows beside your bed— 

I’ll come into your room and paint your cheeks 
red.” 


Report of Cleanliness 
Washee-Muchee. 

Washee Muchee had muchee to say> 

To boys and girls I say eachee day, 
^‘Washee your teeth, washee your skin, 
Use plentee of soap, no germs gettee in. 




Washee Miitchee, the Cleanliness Brownie 



78 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Washee your hair to make it look nice; 

Take a hot hathee every week, once or twice. 
Washee your fingers every time that you eat, 
Washee your clothes to makee them so neat. 

If you washee and scrubee as much as I say, 

You will allee be sweet as the blossoms of May.’^ 

The Report of Exercise 
Brawny Brownie. 

I have had some trouble the last month or two 
In teaching the children just what to do 
To keep up their exercises every day 
When the weather seems stormy for outdoor play. 

Of course there are many who love to skate 
And coasting is fun with a good playmate. 

To these children winter is a delight. 

Nothing pleases them more than a good snowball 
fight. 

They’re not afraid of a little cold weather 
When they run and jump and play together. 

But there were some—would you believe that? 
Who sat by the fire all day like a sleepy old cat 

Then I worried about it, but what could I do ? 

I thought of a plan. I’ll tell it to you. 

I gave each a free pass to a Movie Show. 

I urged all the Stay-by-the-Fires to go. 



The Health Broivnies 


79 


The play was crammed full of excitement and fun; 
How the handsome hero could climb, jump, and 
run! 

His chest was big and his muscles were strong. 

He stood head and shoulders above all the throng. 

A fair maiden he rescued from the villain cruel. 
And the villain was overcome in a duel. 

Then, I whispered to every ‘‘Fireside Fraidy- 

Cat,’’ 

Do you want to be able to do all that! 

If so, to Exercise you must attend. 

And now Exercise is their very best friend. 

Report of Sleep 


Tuck-M-In. 

Do you want to know what I found to do! 

Well, Tuck-M-In has been busy, too. 

I found some children who were staying up late, 
Going to bed, they just seemed to hate. 

Their mothers would coax and their fathers would 
scold 

And those naughty children often were told, 

“Early to bed and early to rise 

Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.’’ 



80 


Puppet Plays for Children 


But to coaxing and scolding they gave no heed, 
So I found the thing they seemed to need; 

I made bedtime the best time of all; 

I invited them to the Sleep Fairies’ Ball. 

The Sleep Fairies hold a ball every night; 

They gaily dance ’neath the silvery moonlight. 
The ball is held in the Palace of Dreams 
Where everything enchanted seems. 

Gold and silver and jewels rare 
Gleam and glisten everywhere. 

Since IVe put these lovely dreams in their heads 
The children now coax to go to their beds. 

They get up early, fresh as the dew; 

That’s what Tuck-M-In found to do. 

The Report of the Food Bkownie 


Cheffy. 

Brawny Brownie has been telling about his 
Movie Show.” 

Now I have been giving a good show also. 

Mine was a Food Show. It surely was fine. 
For preparing good food is right in my line. 

I invited all those who were much overweight, 
But they were so lazy they came somewhat late. 




Tuck-M-In, the Sleep Brownie 













82 


Puppet Plays for Children 


I fed them on lettuce, spinach and peas, 

Foods full of iron but digested with ease. 

Brown bread they could have, but I gave them no 
pie. 

When they complained, I explained to them why: 

That fats and lots of potatoes and desserts too 
sweet. 

Are the things that overweight people ought not to 
eat. 

They were tired from carrying around so much 
fat. 

So most of them paid some attention to that. 

The next day I invited all those underweight. 

And they were so weak they also came late. 

I fed them on plenty of rich milk and rice, 

I gave them some chocolate they thought very 
nice. 

I said, ‘^Eat your food slowly, take plenty of 
time. 

A dinner that is bolted is not worth a dime. 

After my food show they each felt so much better, 

That they all got together and wrote me a letter. 

Saying, ‘‘Thank you, dear Chetfy, for the lesson 
you taught. 

In the future we will eat only foods that we 
ought. ^' 




Cheffy, the Food Brownie 

















84 


Puppet Plays for Children 


King of the Brownies. 

Good! Fine! The reports are splendid, 

Many evils yon have mended. 

You have worked so hard, you have labored so 
long, 

We now ought to have a dance and song. 

[Brownies march about the stage.'] 

Brownies, attention! One! Two! Three! 

Hep! Hep! Hep! Follow me! 

Left foot! Right foot, in straight line. 

Right about! March! Fine! Fine! 

Halt! Halt! Not so good! 

You must learn to stop when you should! 

Company, attention! Now join hands 
And be the merriest of Brownie bands. 

Hop about and sing a song. 

Let your voices be clear and strong! 

Brownies \_join in singing]. 

Good Health Song 
Tune: Rueben and Rachel 
Little people, weVe been thinking 
What a tine world this would be 
If you all were Good Health Brownies— 
Won’t you join us speedily? 



JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 

CHARACTERS 


Giant 

Giant’s Wife 


Jack 

Mothek [Jack’s] 
Fairy Queen 
Fairies 


Butcher {in disguise '] 


SCENE I 

Before Jack’s House 


Mother. 

Oh me, oh my, no wonder I cry! 

No food in the house. 

No money to buy! 

Jack, Jack, my dear, come here, come here! 
We must sell poor Bossie 
I greatly fear. 

Jack. 

But she is my pet. We can’t sell her yet. 
I’ll work and earn money, or 
Fish with my net. 

Mother. 

No, do as I say! Take her away! 

Lead her to market 
And sell her to-day. 


85 


86 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Jack. 

So Boss, come Boss! Don’t be cross. 
I must take you away. 

’Twill be a great loss. 

Mother dear, do not fear, 

I ’ll bring back much gold. 

So dry every tear. Good-by. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


87 


SCENE II 

On the Way to Makket 

Butcher. 

Good morning, my lad. Why are you so sad! 
You must sell your cow! 

Now that is too bad. 

Jack. 

Yes, it is true. It makes me so blue. 

But we have no money. 

What else could we do! 

Butcher. 

Well, sell her to me. How will that be! 

It will save you a journey 
To town, don’t you see! 

Jack. 

Yes, sir, but pray, what will you pay! 

I must have much gold 
To take home to-day. 

Butcher. 

Gold, did you say! I have none to-day. 

I’ve something far better 
Than gold for your pay. 

Look here in my hat. See that, and that! 
These are magic beans 
To make you healthy and fat. 



88 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Jack. 

Mother will scold, for I was told 
That I must not fail 
To bring back much gold. 

Butcher. 

Your mother won’t care, if you dare 
To trade for these beans. 

Your good luck she will share! 

I can plainly see, no more you will be 
Poor as church mice; 

From hunger and care you ’ll be free. 

Jack. 

Here’s the cow. Take her now. 

Give me the beans. 

We shall be happy, I vow. 

Butcher. 

My you are wise. But time flies. 

And I must go. Good-by. 

Eemember those beans are a prize. 

Jack. 

I fear Mother may scold, and think I’ve been bold 
To trade for these beans 
Instead of much gold. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


89 


SCENE III 
Befoee Jack’s House 

Mothek. 

0 Jack, dear Jack, what have you brought back? 
If you’ve a great deal of money, 

Food we shall no longer lack. 

Jack. 

I have no money. Now, honey. 

Please don’t scold! 

Just trust to your sonny. 

See in my hat! What do you think of that! 

These are magic beans! 

They will make us healthy and fat. 

Mother. 

Jack, Jack, you don’t mean that? 

Why, have you traded our cow 
For those beans in your hat? 

Jack. 

Oh my, oh my, I don’t know why. 

I see now it was wrong and silly. 

But Mother don’t cry. 




90 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Mother. 

I’m too angry for tears. 

Now it appears 

I had reason to worry, a cause for my fears. 

I saw to-day, passing this way 
That dishonest butcher. When I tried 
To stop, he said, “Nay! nay!” 

So he has our cow; we have nothing now. 

For I’ll have no more to do with these beans. 
That I vow. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


91 


SCENE IV 
Outside Jack’s House 

Header. 

A giant beanstalk has grown up during the night. 
Jack and his Mother rush out of the house to see 
it. 

Mother. 

Gracious me! What can this be*? 

A beanstalk, as I live, 

Growing higher than a tree. 

Jack. 

Those beans you threw away only yesterday 
Have sprouted and grown into this wonderful 
stalk. 

Let me climb it, I pray. 

Mother. 

No, that won’t do at all. It’s so dreadfully tall. 
If you’d get dizzy or stumble, 

You’d have a terrible fall. 

You might break your bones on these stones. 
And then I should hear nothing 
But laments and groans. 



92 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Jack. 

Oh, please let me climb! I’ll be back in no time. 
I may meet great adventures 
Before the evening bells chime. 

You have nothing to fear, 

Good luck may be near. 

What can be at the top of this beanstalk so queer? 
Mothee. 

Well, you may go, and if you meet some woe, 
Remember, my son. 

That I told you so. 

Jack. 

I’m not afraid. No stranger ladder was ever 
made. 

When I get back 

All our troubles may fade. 

Good-by! Here I go. If I meet some foe, 

I’ll be very brave 

And give him a knock-out blow. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


93 


SCENE V 

Inside the Giant’s Castle 
Time— Evening of the Same Day 


Eeadee. 

The Giant’s Wife is seen preparing the Giant’s 
supper. 

She hears a knock at the door. 

Giant’s Wife. 

Oh, goodness me, who can that be? 

Who dares to knock here? 

I will tell him to flee. 

[Sees Jack] 

You little dear! What brings you here? 

This is a Giant’s castle. 

You have a great deal to fear. 

The Giant’s away. He went hunting to-day. 

With his dreadful club 
A wild beast to slay. 

He’s a fierce man, all dressed in tan. 

He can eat you in one mouthful. 

I’ll say that he can. 




94 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Now run away. Mind what I say. 

Hedl be here pretty soon, 

So do not delay. 

Jack. 

Let me in please. I fear I will freeze. 

The weather up here 
Makes me shiver and sneeze. 

[Jack enters^ 

I^m so hungry, too. Oh, what can I do 
If you turn me away! 

Places of shelter are few. 

Just a bite to eat would be a great treat! 
Then I’ll hurry away. 

So your husband I won’t meet. 

[Jack hursts into tears] 


Giant’s Wife. 

You poor little lad! Now, that is too bad; 
To send you away hungry 
Makes me feel so sad. 

I’ll give you some stew. How will that do? 
Sit down here. I’ll be back 
In a minute or two. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


95 


\_Tlie Giant^s Wife goes out^ 

[Jack hears a noise and hides behind a curtain\ 

Fairy flies in through an open tvindow. She is the 
Queen of the Fairies] 

Fairy. 

Jack, Jack, where are you? 

Don’t be afraid, I am your friend. 

I am here to help you. 

Oh, here you are. Listen to what I have to tell you! 
Fairy. 

Your father— 

Jack. 

My father? 

Fairy. 

Oh, yes, dear hoy, I will tell you the true story 
of your father. He was a noble, brave and gallant 
man and very rich withal. When you were a baby 
he was robbed and killed by the cruel giant who 
dwells in this castle. This giant threatened to 
slay both you and your mother if she ever told 
you of the cause of your father’s death. Poor 
lady! All these years she has been suffering in 
silence. 






The Giant, His Wife, Jack, the Butcher (Fairy) 





Jack and the Beanstalk 


97 


Now, Jack, you have grown to be a strong and 
fearless lad; otherwise you would not have climbed 
the beanstalk. 

Do you want to regain the gold that rightly be¬ 
longs to you and to your mother ! 

Jack. 

Oh kind fairy, I will do anything to make my 
mother happy. 

Fairy. 

After the giant has eaten his supper he always 
calls for his enchanted harp, his magic hen and 
his money bags. My fairies will lull him into a 
deep sleep. Then you may come from your hiding 
place and seize the hen and money bags. But 
touch not the enchanted harp. 

You must leave here and flee for your life. Do 
not waste a minute, hasten down the beanstalk 
with your treasures. 

[The Giant’s Wife enters] 

Giant’s Wife. 

Here is the stew that I heated for you. 

Please eat it quickly. 

If you hear a loud stamping, you’ll know what to 
do. 


[Giant’s Wife goes out] 






Fe, fi, fo, film! I smell the blood of an Englishmnn! 





















Jack and the Beanstalk 


99 


Eeadeb. 

Jack eats the stew. After a short interval, a 
loud tramping is heard in the distance. It comes 
nearer. Jack hides. 

[The Giant enters] 

Giant. 

Wife! Wife! Wife! Upon my life 
You’re a lazy creature! 

Bring me some bread and my knife! 

Fe, ti, f 0, fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman! 
Be he alive or be he dead, 

I’ll grind his bones to make my bread. 

Giant’s Wife. 

It’s only this stew I cooked for you. 

And here is your bread. 

All crispy and new. 

[The Giant eats his supper and his Wife sits doivn and 
watches him] 

[He makes a great deal of noise while eating] 
Giant. 

Now, you lazy thing, you know what to bring! 
And be quick about it. 

Or I’ll hit you, bam! bing! 

Lay, my hen, lay, you must obey. 

Lay a golden egg! 

As you do every day! 



100 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Now, hen, arise. Hen, you^re a prize. 

Never have you lain 
An egg of this size! 

Now, harp, play! Play away! 

Now sing a gay song 
To cheer me up to-day. 

[The harp plays and the Giant dances^ 

[A music box may be played] 

Well, that was fine, gay and sparkling as wine! 
But I can make sweeter music 
With these coins of mine. 

[As the Giant jingles his coins loudly the Fairies 
fly into the room and over the head of the Giant. 
His head sinks lower and he is asleep. Jack 
creeps in and seizes the money bag while the 
Fairies sing.] 

Fairies [sing]. 

The Fairies’ Song 
Tune: May Day 
An Old English Folk Song 

Here come the fairies 
Down from Slumber-Land! 

We dance so lightly, 

A merry fairy band. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


101 


Now shut your eyes tight 
And nod your Giant head; 
You must sleep soundly, 
Although you Ye not in bed. 







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Jack Creeps In 























Jack and the Beanstalk 


103 


SCENE VI 
Befobe Jack’s House 


Mothek. 

Alas, alack! My poor, dear Jack! 

Where can he be? 

If he’d only come back! 

[The hen flies down'] 
[‘^Cut-cut-cnta-cut!” cries the hen] 

Oh dear, oh dear. 

What do I hear? 

If it isn’t a chicken! 

Now, isn’t that queer? 

[Jack calls down^ ^‘Look out, below!”] 
[Mothek runs to one side] 


Mother. 

What do I see? Can it really be? 

The money bags that were stolen 
From my husband and me? 

[Jack comes down to the ground] 



104 


Puppet Plays for Children 


Jack. 

The ax, quick! Or I ’ll look sick! 

A giant is coming 
With a great big stick! 

Mothee. 

It’s out in the shed, 

Where the chickens are fed. 

Help me to find it. Or we both will be dead! 
Giant. 

If I get you, oh, what I won’t do 1 
You’ll be dead as a door knob 
When I get through! 

[Jack goes out and chops down the beanstalk. The 
Giant falls to the earth] 

Mothee. 

The giant is dead. 

Jack. 

The giant is dead. Hurrah, hurrah! 

Butchee. 

So the giant is dead. Hurrah, hurrah! 

[Cow comes in] 

Jack. 

Why, here is my pet! You have her yet. 

If you will sell her to us, 

No more we will fret. 



Jack and the Beanstalk 


105 


Butcher. 

I will do it, my lad. Now, aren’t you glad 
That you traded this cow 
For those beans that I had? 

My plans are fulfilled. The giant is killed, 
And everything happened 
As your fairy god-mother willed. 

[Enter the Fairies] 


Fairies [singl, 

SoHG OF the Fairies 

Tune : May Day 

Here come the fairies, 
A-down from fairyland! 

We dance so lightly, 

A merry fairy band. 

Our fairy queen 

The butcher form did take; 

Eejoice, rejoice now. 

She did it for your sake. 









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r* 


SANTA’S MAGIC 

A Shadow Play 
CHARACTERS 


Father 

Mother 

Children, three 
Rich Brother 
Wood Chopper [Santa Claus 
in disguise'] 

Brownies 


>the Shadows 


Six Readers 


Note. The Shadows say nothing hut act out the 
parts. The play is spoken hy the readers,^^ 

A white sheet should he stretched across the corner 
of the school room nearest the cloak room where the 
players wait their turns to appear. The room is dark¬ 
ened save for a 100-watt electric light that is suspended 
behind the players. The actors must stand very close 
to the sheet so that the shadows will he sharply out¬ 
lined. 


107 



108 


Puppet Plays for Children 


SCENE I 
A PooE Home 


First Eeader. 

A poor, sad family here you see, 

Mother and father and children three. 

See them shiver in the cold. 

See their clothes, so ragged and old. 

The children cry for a crust of bread, 

The mother sadly shakes her head. 

The father springs to his feet in despair 
When he sees the cupboard so empty and bare. 

‘Ht is Christmas Eve and perhaps he. 

My hard-hearted rich brother, may kinder be.’^ 

will ask for a loaf of bread, no more, 

Just a bit of food from his great store.’’ 

‘‘Yes,” sighed his wife, “it may be that he. 

On Christmas Eve, will heed your plea*” 

So the poor father set out that stormy night. 
Praying that his rich brother would pity their 
plight. 



Santa^s Magic 


109 


SCENE II 

The Home of the Eich Brother 
Second Header. 

A gay Christmas party here you see, 

Children happy and dancing in glee. 

But hark! who is knocking at the door? > 

“What!^’ screams the rich brother, ‘‘are you beg- ' 
ging some more?’’ 

[Father enters and kneels^ 

The father begs, “Don’t be angry! Show pity 
instead. 

My children are starving. Give us one loaf of 
bread. ’ ’ 

“Not a crumb!” the rich brother answers. “Get 
out of here quick. 

Folks who can’t earn their bread deserve only a 
stick! ’ ’ 

“Oh,” said the father, “have pity! ’Twill be 
Christ’s birthday to-morrow. 

You will keep it in joy, my poor family in sor¬ 
row.” 



110 


Puppet Plays for Children 


‘‘Well, take this big ham! The cook just brought 
it in. 

When you’ve eaten all that,” sneered the rich 
man, “you won’t be so thin.” 

“Oh thank you, God bless you!” the poor brother 
said. 

But the rich brother only banged the door at his 
head. 



Santa^s Magic 


111 


SCENE III 


Thikd Eeadee. 

This woodchopper working so industriously, 

Is not the poor fellow he seems to be. 

He is a kind Christmas fairy, Santa Claus in dis¬ 
guise, 

The jolly old fellow so kind and so wise. 

He sees the poor man with his ham on his 
shoulder. 

He calls, Bring that over here beside this big 
boulder. ’ ’ 

Said he, ‘‘Beneath this stone, so IVe been told. 

There is a great treasure that’s better than gold. 

“A band of Brownies live under that boulder; 

They will trade their treasure for the ham on your 
shoulder. ’ ’ 

“And what is that treasure!” asked the poor man. 

“It’s a magic mill,” said the wood chopper. “Get 
it, if you can.” 

“I will help you lift this stone,” said the fairy. 

“When you get the mill, hurry back, do not 
tarry.” 

“I’ll remember. Good-by,” said the anxious man. 

As down the stone steps he lightly ran. 



112 


Puppet Plays for Children 


SCENE IV 

In the Cave of the Bkownies 
Fourth Eeader. 

A band of Brownies dance to and fro 
Around and over and down they go. 

Listen and hear what the wee folks say, 
As they dance and prance and gayly play. 

The Brownies" Song 


Brownies [sing^. 

We are little Brownies, full of glee, 
Dancing and prancing merrily 
To and fro, to and fro. 

Dancing and prancing to and fro. 

Fourth Eeader. 

Now the Brownies stop their dancing. 
Upward to the door they^re glancing. 

‘‘Attention, Brownies,’’ cried their chief. 
“There’s ham here—that’s my belief.” 

The Brownies crying, “Ham, ham, ham!” 
Eun eagerly to greet the man. 



. ^ . 


r* 



. . . ''The wee folks agree 

To give up the mill for the ham so big. 

For the mill fust wouldn't grind out pig.” 







114 


Puppet Plays for Children 


They offer him silver, they offer him gold, 

And all the jewels his hands can hold. 

He shakes his head at each offer they make— 
There’s only one thing that he will take. 

He points to a mill behind the door, 

All rusty and dusty on the stone floor. 

‘'Nay, nay!” said the Brownies, “Yes, yes!” said 
he. 

But finally the wee folks agree 

To give up the mill for the ham so big. 

For the mill just wouldn’t grind out pig. 

“Hurrah!” said the Brownies, “we’re satisfied; 
We love ham boiled, we adore it fried.” 

So the poor man took the mill away 
And ran up the steps without delay. 



Santa^s Magic 


115 


SCENE V 
In the Forest 


Fifth Reader. 

The old wood chopper, Santa Claus I mean, 
Waiting here in the woods is seen. 

^‘Good, good!’’ he says, when he sees the mill. 
And he laughs and laughs with right good will. 

Then he gives the poor man a mighty whack 
Right on the middle of his hack. 

''Well, well!” he says, "you have it, I see; 
Just put it down beside the tree. 

"Now listen, friend, with all your will. 

And I’ll tell you how to work this mill. 

"Say 'Little mill, grind my wish for me, 

Fie fee fum, fiddle de de.’ ” 

No sooner the magic words did he hear 
When the poor man saw Santa Claus disappear. 

"Well, well,” said he, "what a curious man. 
I’ll hurry home and try his plan.” 



116 


Puppet Plays for Children 


SCENE VI 
The Poor Man’s Home 


Sixth Header. 

The poor mother and her children are here, 
Watching and waiting with hope and fear. 

At last they hear a step outside. 

^^Oh, it is Father,” the children cried. 

The mother hastens to open the door. 

The children dash across the floor. 

‘‘0 father!” they cry, ‘‘have you brought some 
bread?” 

“No,” he answers, “but IVe this instead.” 

“Oh! Oh!” they shout, “what can that be?” 
“Just wait,” says the father, “and you shall see.” 

He places the mill upon the table. 

To hold in her sobs his wife is not able. 

“We can’t eat that,” the poor woman cries; 

“I had hoped for bread,” she moans and sighs. 

“Wait, wait!” says the father, “and dry your 
tears. 

This little mill will quiet your fears.” 



Santa^s Magic 


117 


^‘Little mill, grind some bread for me, 

Fie fee fum, fiddle de de/^ 

‘‘Bread! Bread! It works, you see!’’ 

The children clap and jump in glee. 

Then Mother says, “It is so cold in here. 

“Can you grind out some fire wood, my dear?” 

“Little mill, grind firewood for me. 

Fie fee fum, fiddle de de.” 

“Ah! here is wood for a blazing fire. 

The little mill never seems to tire.” 

“Now, how about some nice, warm clothes?” 
Says Father, “We’ll be warm from head to toes.” 

“I’ll grind out some nice warm blankets now; 
See, the magic little mill knows how ! 

“Now that the children are warmed and fed, 
’Neath the soft blankets they’ll be tucked in bed.” 

“Grood night, good night!” they sleepily say; 
“To-morrow will be Christmas day.” 



118 


Puppet Plays for Children 


^'Grood night, dear children,’' the parents say, 
‘^To-morrow will he a joyous day.” 

Now hoys and girls, the magic mill. 

Will grind away these stockings to till. 

[Children hang stockings before a fireplace and sing 
a Christmas song,'\ 





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